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Wasafiri Essay Prize

The Wasafiri Essay Prize aims to discover, encourage, and award innovative critical essays of an exemplary standard, which constitute the most exciting academic work happening today across the field of international contemporary literature (literature published since 1965 from anywhere in the world).  

While in previous years the Essay Prize winner was chosen through a different process, from 2026 onwards we are changing the way we judge and award the prize. Going forward, the winner will be chosen by Wasafiri's editorial team and world-class Associate Editors from eligible articles published in Wasafiri each calendar year. The next winner will be chosen from the academic articles published in our 2026 issues, Wasafiri 125–128. 

Wasafiri is a peer–reviewed journal and listed in the Clarivate Analytics’ Arts & Humanities Citation Index. We are particularly interested in writing that is daring, accessible, and engaging without sacrificing nuance or rigour. The magazine welcomes articles that position new critical perspectives within one or more broader contexts. 

Submission Process and Eligibility  

The submission process remains the same. Submit your unpublished, original academic articles (6,000-9,000 words) to the magazine via our portal here — and ensure you tick the box labelled ‘Enter the Wasafiri Essay Prize’.  

All submissions should adhere to MLA Style.  

Academic submissions to the magazine are open year-round, from anywhere in the world.  

To be eligible for the prize, you must be an early-career researcher and have been awarded a PhD no more than eight years ago. Institutional affiliation is not necessary. 

Prize 

Winners are awarded: 

  • £250 cash prize 

  • A mentoring conversation with an academic on our editorial board in a relevant field of study 

  • An annual print and digital subscription to Wasafiri 

We aim to make a decision within nine to twelve months, allowing time for mutually-anonymous double peer review. 

AI Policy 

The use of assistive software and/or technology is permitted. Articles formed of AI-generated content, or which have been produced through the use of machine translation are not permitted and will be treated as plagiarism. 

Find out more about the 2025 Essay Prize winner here.  

Subscribe to read this winning piece in our forthcoming autumn issue, Wasafiri 127.